Time controlled radio tuning device



J1me 1941'- c. R. JOHNSTON ETAL 2,244,299

TIME CONTROLLED RADIO TUNING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1938(fiZJoTrnoZofl *5. 0. John 52072 Patented June 3, 1941 TIME CONTROLLEDRADIO TUNING DEVICE Charles R. Johnston and Samuel 0. Johnston, NatronaHeights, Pa.

Application December 15, 1938, Serial No. 245,976

Claims.

This invention relates to a time controlled radio tuning device, and itis primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindfor connection with a tuning unit of a radio receiver and wherein thedevice is so constructed and arranged to provide means for setting theradio receiver to receive over a period of hours certain previouslyselected programs consecutively.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kindfor coaction with the tuning unit of a radio receiving set whereby thereceiving set is automatically tuned as desired from one station to theother to allow the radio receiving set to consecutively receive programsfrom different broadcasting stations.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved timecontrolled radio tuning device whereby certain important advantages areattained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwisemm'e comvenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of our invention and with certain of theparts associated therewith being diagrammatically illustrated;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the apparatus as illustrated in Figure1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a contact memberconstructed in accordance with another embodiment of our invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A and B denote two rollers ofdesired dimensions mounted respectively for rotation with the shafts Iand 2. These shafts I and 2, as

' herein disclosed, are rotatably engaged with conventional bearings 3mounted upon suitably positioned supporting columns 4. The shafts I and2 are in parallelism and the rollers A and B have disposed therearoundendless belts 5 of desired material to the outer faces of which aresuitably afilxed the transverse bars 5. These bars 6 are of equal width.Each of said bars at its ends is provided with the outstanding lugs orteeth I. These teeth I are of a width less than the width of the bar 6and are positioned at one side thereof.

The spaces between the teeth or lugs I of adjacent bars 6 receive theteeth 8 of the gear elements 9 carried by the opposite end portions ofthe rollers A and B whereby the rollers A and B and the endless membersor belts 5 are assembled for unitary movement.

The roller A is the driving roller and the shaft I of the roller A hasfixed for rotation therewith a ratchet wheel I0. Coacting with thisratchet wheel III is an upstanding pawl ll pivotally connected, as atI2, with an end portion of a rock lever HI. This rock lever I4 issupported for rocking movement at a predetermined point intermediate itsends, as at I5, with an adjacent upstanding tower I6 positioned to oneside of the member or belt 5. There are two of these towers I6 locatedbetween the rollers A and B and between which the members or belts 5pass. The pawl I I is yieldingly urged and maintained in contact withthe ratchet wheel III by a leaf spring I! carried by the adjacentportion of the lever I4 and bearing against the pawl II.

The end portion of the lever l4 remote from the roller A is operativelyconnected, as at I8, with the core I9 associated with the solenoid 20.As herein disclosed, the core I9 is normally maintained raised orextended under the action of a retractile spring 40 suitably secured tothe forward or working end portion of the lever I4 and to the adjacenttower It at a point below the lever I4.

When the solenoid 20 is energized the core l9 will be retracted and thelever I4 swung a distance sufficient to cause the pawl II through theinstrumentalities of the ratchet wheel I0 and shaft I to givethe rollerA rotation sufficient to advance the upper stretch of the member or belt5 a distance equal to the width of a member 6. One of the conductors aof the electric circuit for the solenoid 20 has interposed therein atime controlled switch S of any preferred type and which switch ispreferably of a character to close the circuit for the solenoid 20 everyfifteen minutes although, of course, this may be varied as desired.

The members 6 are of a material non-conductive of electricity anddisposed through each of the members 6 at spaced points therealong arethe openings 2|. The endless members or belts 5 are relatively narrow,as is illustrated in Figure 2, and the connections between said membersor belts 5 and the members 6 are at such locations to prevent themembers or belts 5 obstructing any of the openings 2|. The openings 2|of the various members 6 are aligned in the direction of travel of saidmembers to provide What may be termed longitudinal rows of open ings.Each of such longitudinal rows of openings 2| is identified with asingle broadcasting station. As the members 6 pass upwardly andforwardly over the driving roller A they also pass a transverselydisposed bar 22 herein disclosed as supported in desired position by thearms 23 secured to the adjacent supports 4. This bar 22 adjacent to eachlongitudinal row of openings 2| is provided with a station identifyingsymibol 24, the purpose of which is obvious.

The towers l6 hereinbefore referred to terminate above the upper stretchof the members 8. These towers above such upper stretch are connected bythe transverse member 26 and below said upper stretch are furtherconnected by the transversely disposed member 21. These members are of amaterial non-conductive of electricity.

Depending from the top member 26 is a series of resilient contactmembers 28, there being one of such members 28 for each longitudinalseries of openings 2|. The contact member 23 for each series of openings2| is positioned to one side of such series of openings and is providedat its lower end with a laterally directed lug 29 which normally extendsover said row of openings. The side edges of this lug 28 convergeoutwardly as particularly illustrated in Figure 3 while the outer marginof said lug 29 is provided with a circular recess 30. Each of thesecontact members 28 is in proper electrical connection through aconductor b with the tuning unit for the radio receiving set R so thatwhen a circuit is closed through a contact member 28 the radio receivingset will be automatically tuned to the station with which said contactmember 23 is associated. As the tuning unit of the radio set forms nopart of the present invention but is of a character now generally in usea detailed description and illustration thereof is not deemed necessary.

The lower cross member 2'! is provided with a series of upstandingresilient and yielding contact members 3|, there being one of suchmembers 3| for each longitudinal series of openings 2|. Each of thesecontact members 3| is positioned to one side of its associated row ofopenings 2| and at its upper end is provided with the laterally disposedlug 32 of a character similar to the lug 29 hereinbefore referred to.The contact members 3| are connected in series as illustrated in Figure2 with the conductor 0 at one side of the circuit for the tuning unit.

In Figure 6 of the drawings is illustrated a form of the inventionwherein a contact member comprises a swinging arm 33 constantly urged ina direction toward its row of openings by an expansible member 34,herein disclosed as a coil spring, surrounding a guide finger 35 freelydisposed through the central portion of the arm 33. A contact membersuch as illustrated in Figure 6 may be employed either above or belowthe upper stretch of the members 6 in lieu of the contact members 28 and3|.

Elongated plugs 36 conductive of electricity are selectively insertedthrough the openings 2| of the various bars or members 6 in accordancewith the programs desired. These plugs 36 are of such length that whenapplied they will have desired engagement with the required contacts 28and 3| to close the proper circuit for tuning the receiving set R to thestation desired. This contact is maintained in the present embodiment ofthe invention for a period of fifteen minutes and during the periodsbetween the energizing of the solenoid 29 shifting of the members orbars 6 is prevented by having the contact members engaged within therecesses 30. While this is not at all times necessary the recesses 39are provided as a precautionary measure.

The shaft for the roller A also carries for rotation therewith a beveledgear 31 with which meshes a pinion 38 carried by a hand operated shaft39. This shaft 39, as herein disclosed, is operatively supported by theadjacent support 4. The shaft 39 provides means whereby a manualadjustment of the members or bars 6 with respect to the contact members28 and 3| may be readily and conveniently effected when desired.

Each of the members or bars 6 also carries a time indication 40 so thata member or bar 6 may be properly set with respect to the time of theprogram and also to further facilitate the desired selective placementof the plugs 36.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a timecontrolled radio tuning device constructed in accordance with ourinvention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated,and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of somechange and modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof and for this reason we do not wish to be understood as limitingourselves to the precise arrangement and formation of the several partsherein. shown in carrying out our invention in practice except ashereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In combination with a plurality of electric circuits each havingspaced contacts interposed therein, a plurality of bars arranged side byside and in close proximity, said bars being of the same width, meansfor connecting the bars for travel in a continuous path in a directiontransversely of the bars, a stretch of the assembly of the barstravelling between the contact members of each of the circuits, meansfor intermittently moving said bars a distance equal to the width of abar, and means carried by the bars and extending beyond opposite facesthereof to connect the spaced contacts in the circuits in desiredsequence for selectively and consecutively closing the normally opencircuits.

2. In combination with a plurality of electric circuits each havingspaced contacts interposed therein, a plurality of bars arranged side byside and in close proximity, said bars being of the same width, meansfor connecting the bars for travel in a continuous path in a directiontransversely of the bars, a stretch of the assembly of the barstravelling between the contact members of each of the circuits, meansfor intermittently moving said bars a distance equal to the width of abar, contacts carried by and extending beyond opposite faces of the barsto connect the spaced contacts in the circuits in desired sequence forselectively and consecutively closing the normally open circuits, andmeans positioned adjacent to the path of travel of the bars for locatingthe various contacts at points along each bar for determining theplacement of said means.

3. In combination with a plurality of electric circuits each havingspaced contacts interposed therein, a plurality of bars arranged side byside and in close proximity, said bars being of the same width, meansfor connecting the bars for travel in a direction transversely of thebars, said connected bars travelling between the contact members in eachof the circuits, rollers supporting said endless assembly of bars, gearwheels rotating with said rollers, outstanding lugs at the ends of saidbars engaging with the gear wheels, means for intermittently rotatingone of the rollers for moving the bars a distance equal to the width ofa bar, and means carried by the bars in desired sequence and extendingbeyond opposite faces of the bars for selectively and consecutivelyclosing the normally open circuits.

4. In combination with a plurality of electric circuits each havingspaced contacts interposed therein, a plurality of bars arranged side byside and in close proximity, said bars being of the same width, meansfor connecting the bars for travel in a direction transversely of thebars, rollers supporting said endless assembly of bars for movementbetween the contact members in each of the circuits, gear wheelsrotating with said rollers, said rollers and bars being in drivingconnection, a ratchet wheel rotating with one of the rollers, a rocklever, a pawl carried by said lever engaging the ratchet wheel forrtating said ratchet wheel and associated roller upon rocking of thelever to move the bars a distance equal to the width of a bar, means forintermittently rocking the lever, and means carried by the bars indesired sequence and extending beyond opposite faces of the bars forselectively and consecutively closing the normally open circuits.

. 5. In combination with a plurality of electric circuits each havingspaced contacts interposed therein, a plurality of bars arranged side byside and in close proximity, said bars being of the same width, meansfor connecting the bars for travel in a direction transversely of thebars, rollers supporting said endless assembly of bars, gear wheelsrotating with said rollers, said rollers and bars being in drivingconnection, a ratchet wheel rotating with one of the rollers, a rocklever, a pawl carried by said lever engaging the ratchet wheel forrotating said ratchet wheel and associated roller upon rocking of thelever to move the bars a distance equal to the width of a bar, means forintermittently rocking the lever, contact members in the circuitspositioned above and below a stretch of the endless assembly of thebars, each of said bars having longitudinally spaced openings, saidopenings being aligned in series extending lengthwise of the stretchesof the assembly, each series of such openings being associated with thecontact members of one circuit, and plugs conductive of electricityselectively insertible through the openings of the bars to engage thecontact members to close the circuits in which said contact members areinterposed.

CHARLES R. JOHNSTON. SAMUEL O. JOHNSTON.

